Curtain catch or holder.



No. 883,444. PATENTBD MAR; 31,1908.

L. J. BERG. CURTAIN CATGH OR HOLDER,

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2. 1907.

ii-Ill V F "w- 53min -1.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

LABS J. BERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO METALLIC SHEATHING COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LABS J. BERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Curtain Catches or Holders, of which the following is a specification.

It often happens in uncoupling vestibule cars of a train that the railway employees overlook the fact that the side curtains spacing the passageway between the vestibules of the adjacent platform are connected, so that when the cars are separated it results in tearing and injuring the same.

This invention relates to curtain catches or holders and is more especially applicable for use in connection with the bridging over of the side walls of the passageway between vestibule passenger cars.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a curtain catch or holder which will securely retain the curtain in its desired position as long as necessary, but which will, however, automatically release the curtain therefrom when considerable pressure or pull is exerted thereon.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the usual relative positions of curtains bridging the side walls of the passageway between vestibule cars; Fig. 2 a side elevation of the curtain catch or holder with the catch member partly retracted; Fig. 3 a side elevation showing, in dotted lines, the outer end of a curtain secured thereto; Fig. 4 a rear elevation of the curtain catch or holder; Fig. 5 a transverse section taken on line 5-5 of Fig 4; Fig. 6 a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4 looking toward the left; and Fig. 7 a similar view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 4 looking toward the right thereof.

The curtain catch or holder 8 comprises an outer shell or plate 9, preferably having a rounded or curved contour 10, which more readily adapts itself for use upon the vestibule of passenger cars, to which it is attached by inserting suitable fastening means through eyes 11 near the corners thereof. A pair of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 2, 1907.

Patented March 31, 1908.

Serial No. 386,770.

ears 12 are cast integral with the plate 9 aforesaid and located near the middle thereof. A frame 13, comprising a pair of arms 14 terminating in eyes 15, is adapted to be rocked or tilted back and forth in fixed position when an axle 16 is passed and secured through the cars 12 and the eyes 15 aforesaid, as shown in Fig. 4. Integral with this frame 13 is an upper lip 16 which is adapted to limit the outer movement of the same by abutting against the inner side of the plate 9. Cast with this frame also is a hook or catch member 17 which lies normally on the exposed or outer face of the plate 9, and which is adapted to engage and-retain the outer or further end of the curtain. On the inner face of the plate and toward the other side thereof is a pair of diagonally disposed slotted lugs 18, adapted to receive trunnions 19 supporting a head 20, through which is passed one end of a forked rod 21. The other end of this rod 21 is forked at 22, and within the same is positioned a roller 23, which contacts the inner surface of the swinging frame 13 to the rear of the lip 16 aforesaid. Encircling this forked rod 21 is a coil spring 24, which, as shown, serves the function of normally retaining the hook or catch member 17 in its extended position.

Owing to the peculiar construction of the device it will be noticed that when sufiicient pressure is exerted upon the catch member it will cause the same to be instantly retracted within the casing, thus positively disengaging the curtain from the catch member; and as soon as this is done to resume its normal extended position.

From the fore oing it is obvious that if the hook or catc of the present invention is used in connection with curtains bridging over the side walls of the passageway between two vestibule cars and for some reason the cars are parted from each other the catch or holding member aforesaid will automatically retract when pressure or force is brought to bear upon it, thus permitting the curtain to wind itself upon the roller ready for use again whenever wanted. Although the curtain catch or holder has been described as being especially applicable for use in connection with curtains bridging the passageway between vestibule cars, it is of course apparent that it may be equally serviceable in many other places.

What I claim as new and desire to secure 5 by Letters Patent is In a curtain catch, a face plate, a catch member formed integral with a movable frame, a movable frame, a forked rod, a roller positioned within the forked rod at the inner end thereof, trunnions at the outer end of the 10 forked rod, lugs adapted to retain the aforesaid trunnions, and a spring encircling the forked rod, substantially as described.

LARS J. BERG. 

